How to apply for a China visa
You need a visa if your passport has no visa-free option, or your trip is for work, study or journalism, or longer than 30 days.
Step by step
- Apply where you live: the Chinese embassy or consulate for your place of residence, or its China Visa Application Service Center.
- Fill in the form online: COVA (consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA) for embassies and consulates, or visaforchina.cn for service centres. COVA accepts image files only, not PDF.
- Wait for the online review. Then bring your passport, the printed barcode page and your originals to the visa office.
- Pay the fee and collect your passport. Fees depend on your nationality and the number of entries.
Processing time counts from the day you hand in your passport. In the US it is 4 business days for regular service and 3 for express.
What you need
- A passport valid for more than 6 months with at least 2 blank visa pages
- A recent colour photo: 48 × 33 mm, white background, taken in the last 6 months, bare head, full face
- The documents for your visa type: for example an invitation for business (M) or a work permit notice for work (Z). Check your embassy’s list.
- Proof of legal residence if you are not a citizen of the country where you apply
L tourism · M business · Q/S visiting family · Z work · X study
Applying from a country where you live but are not a citizen
You can usually apply where you legally live. Bring proof of your status there.
- United Arab Emirates Third-country nationals with a record of legal entry into the UAE, such as a residence visa, can apply at the Chinese Embassy or the China Visa Application Service Center in Dubai.
- Saudi Arabia Non-Saudi applicants bring the original and a copy of their valid residence, employment or student status (iqama). Apply online first, then at the visa application centre.
- United States Non-US citizens upload a copy of their green card, visa, I-20 or I-94 to prove legal residence.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for a China visa online?
You fill in the form and upload documents online, then hand in your passport in person at the visa office or centre.
Can I apply for a China visa in a country where I am a resident?
Usually yes, with proof of legal residence there. For example, UAE and Saudi residents and US green card holders can apply locally.
Official sources: us.china-embassy.gov.cn · newyork.china-consulate.gov.cn · visaforchina.cn · dubai.china-consulate.gov.cn · sa.china-embassy.gov.cn